Today I went to Symantec’s office for the last time. It’s been 4 years 10 months and 3 weeks since I started my first job (and my career) at Symantec, then Veritas.
While I remember many good things, I’m quite sad (not nostalgic) about how the last few days went. The only people who wished me luck (aside of some true friends) were the facilities manager and the person handling the last day formalities. My manager(s) didn’t even bother to have a face-2-face chat/conversation with me.
I remember, a long time ago, how Navneet had gotten pastries for all in the immediate group we worked in. Half the people didn’t even show up, much less wish him. We then decided to give the awesome pastries to the facilities team seeing how they do an amazing job of keeping us comfortable every working day. The phone response and the ecstatic wishes that came his way a few minutes later made it worth the effort.
I emailed my resignation to my manager on the 23rd of April, 2010. This Friday, 7th May 2010, is my last day in office. I began working at my present company, Symantec, over 4 years ago. It would have been 5 in just over a month (27th June 2010).
That is one hell of a long time to be at a company. It’d think differently if I ran the company, like Manish does. Then I’d want to be around for ever, or at least until I made the company so autonomous that it could run on it’s own while I went and did other things.
Coming back to my current state of mind. It’s been a wild ride here.
Lots of friends made, new things learned, tonnes of chai/coffee consumed, photographs taken, emails written and read, air fuel burned (MountainView, Boston, Minneapolis, Singapore) and very many books read/bought.
I remember the first day. The administrative staff had brought me flowers (as a welcome gift), and Sagar had decided to take me under his wing as his official chai partner. His opening line at fixed times of the day was, “Chai kaun pila raha hai aaj?” [who is buying me tea today?], which was a rhetorical question considering that chai was made and server at the company cafeteria.
I had always been in awe of Sagar from the day he joined, for various reasons. He had prime real estate (one of the corner cubicles on the floor), sat next to me, took me to chai, had an awesome set of creative speakers for good music, and sneezed like there was no tomorrow! His sneezes were are test of the building’s structural integrity, and I must say Mayfair Towers passed with flying colours!
Pankaj, Amit and very many others joined after me, and our team grew from the 10-12 odd to about 25 over the years. It’s sad that the trend is reversing and we are going down in size, even though the recession has ended (or maybe because it has). Oh well.
There were countless movie outings, Quake Arena gameplay sessions (in broad daylight, with our manager joining in as well), coffee conversations with the whole team showing up and crowding tables!
Some of the fun incidents I remember are:
Brajesh bringing his “sister” to the Veritas Annual Evening. She is now his wife.
Sonali “aunty” and I making sure to get each other biscuits (a particular one which would get over fairly quicky).
I and Radhika going through harrowing testing sessions and then taking coffee breaks to discuss current affairs (gossip).
I and Chris going on a wine tour and getting high on all the wine tastings we consumed.
Random team lunches and having a ball of a time!
Traveling for various customer centric events, and meeting colleagues as well as customers. It’s always good to hear a good word about our work/products.
Met friends like Navneet, who have been both supportive and a guide through tough times.
Well, anyhoo.. things change, people change. I am now off to explore better and bigger opportunities in Bangalore. Pune has been great in many ways, as has Symantec.
The song itself is amazing, but when you apply it to an event of amazing magnitude, a wedding, it totally blows you away!
Jill and Kevin truly *brought* this song to the world… do not miss their wedding march to this amazing number.
I have to give full credit to their band of friends and family who actually agreed to participating in the march/dance/whatever!!
Various comments on blogs and in youtube have trashed the celebration by stating that this is an insult of God [the march is in a church], but I personally feel that a celebration is a celebration, and God only joins in!
Be prepared to be amazed: JK Wedding March on YouTube [sorry embedding is disallowed].
The song actually drove up sales for Chris Brown’s hit single Forever!!
Some lyrics I loved from the song:
Feels like we’re on another level
Feels like our loves intertwined,
We can be two rebels breaking the rules
me and you, you and I
All you got to do is watch me
Look what I can do with my feet
Baby feel the beat inside,
I’m driving you can take the front seat
Just need you to trust me
- Forever by Chris Brown
Yesterday’s Economic Times editorial titled “Single Minded” made for interesting reading.
I can’t remember exactly what stood out in the brief writeup, but it got me thinking about writing letters and observing people. I’ll talk about each, and how it can help us grow as a person.
Writing Letters:
Gone are the yesteryears where writing letters was the defacto mode of communication. There were so many aspects to it:
The smell of paper and envelope traveling through various lands
The excitement and the wait of reading replies to questions/comments made in previous communiques
Thinking through what you want to write, and structuring the information in a consumable format
Extending hobbies and making penpals
I used to write regularly to my Mama in Mumbai, while growing up in Dubai. We used to exchange random things, and collectibles.
We both collected stamps, and he collected Phone cards. I would make it a point to send him phone cards from Dubai, with different pictures on each [as unique as stamps could be]. He would in return make sure to buy new/different stamps and use them to post the letters to me. This way we were able to extend our hobbies as well as keep in touch.
I remember waiting for 1 particular letter, after he got engaged, to see what my Mami looked like.
I used to write to Atamjeet Kainth regularly too, who was my best friend till 5th grade, when he migrated to Canada. We are still in touch, but now use email *sigh*.
I find it all so very missing in our current lifestyle. The excitement, the personal touch, the exchange of pictures awaited, the extension to hobbies.
All we have is a drab email in a boring interface, with photos attached at will, without consideration or excitement.
I intend to write 1 letter per month, to begin with, and try and review the art at least from my side
Observing People:
I remember reading, as a child, about Jim Corbett sitting in a Ferry and observing people. He was trying to guess the profession and place of origin of each passenger on board the vessel. He happened to meet another traveler on the vessel who was doing the exact same thing!
They ended up chatting and exchanging notes on the art of observation. It was an impressionable read to say the least. Even my dad would tell me while growing up, to observe things around me and to understand what it could mean. I was always more for books than for observance.
But after yesterday’s article I decided to spend 10 minutes a day just observing people [we have a huge cafeteria in the office, so I don't need to find ground]. I believe there is much to be learned.
Lets see how this goes. Will keep you guys posted.
House is a TV serial I watch religiously (says a lot about my beliefs doesn’t it?).
Here are some interesting quotes (will keep adding to them):
- Be a do-er, not a me-too-er!
- Time changes everything. It’s what people say, it’s not true. Doing things changes things. Not doing things leaves things exactly as they were.
Our anniversary is this Saturday, so we decided to do an early semi-celebration by taking a trip to Dandeli about 2 weeks ago. Friends from my office were heading out there, and we decided to join them for a fun time!
All in all it was a blast, and included driving 900 kms (total) through day and night. We enjoyed sitting in a natural jacuzzi on the river Kali, white water rafting and a jungle safari.
Our route was: Pune > Belgaum > Dandeli > Belgaum > Pune. Dandeli is only about 80 kms short of Panjim i Goa.
We had a great bunch of friends who we hung out with, and had a blast. I think we’ll be doing more of these going forward. Driving down was worth it, and I intend to make most of my trips using the road from now on.
Yay! The wifey got back yesterday morning, and it’s been great since then.
It’s her birthday tomorrow (Thursday) and am planning on various agendas for the big day.
All said and done, the 15 days she wasn’t around were hell! It goes to show that no matter how manly men want to be, at the end of the day they are quite dependent on their women
Sure I’m probably less dependent than most, seeing that I lived alone for 9 years and can do everything from clean the house to wash clothes (washing machine, no biggie) to cook. But even then I was quite depressed and realised my level of dependence
So I got engaged.. I mean formally, with ring et al. Our engagements don’t really have rings, in fact the bridegroom isn’t even supposed to be around at the engagement! I gate crashed and we exchanged rings at the end of the so called bridegroom-less engagement
All said and done it was a great event, and I have a ring with a huge rock in it. I had wished for a gold band as that is more comfortable, but it didn’t work out that way for me.
Shruti was looking gorgeous, and I’ll try and get pictures from the photographer who did the shoot. I wasn’t allowed to take my camera with me on such an auspicious day
Looking forward to the wedding and wedding-related festivities that begin next week
Dusty brown boots in the corner
By the ironing board
Spray on dust is the greatest thing
Sure is the greatest thing
– Beta Band, Dry the Rain
I feel like life has taken this turn from which there is no turning back (is there ever??). I miss old friends, am shy to make new ones, and am more than looking forward to life with my wife
All said and done, things are great. The only thing missing is time: time to read books, time to read the paper, time to take a walk, etc. I know all this will be back after I get married, as then we shall do many of these things together, and then some
I’ve began taking a renewed interest in photography. Got my self a spanking new lens and shall begin clicking away to glory today! Shall post up the results on here for all to see.
